"Considering the number of children and adults affected and the profoundly negative life-consequences, even if we cut the NAEP and NAAL numbers in half, more children are at risk of long-term life-harm from the consequence of reading difficulties than from parental abuse, accidents, and all other childhood diseases and disorders combined. In addition to each individual's pain, shame, and loss of opportunity, the collective costs to all of us; socially, politically, and economically are staggering."